Legislation to Help Residents when a Park Closes

The crisis that may befall the 160 residents at Homestead Village Mobile Home Park in North Raleigh does not have to be a regular problem.  Solutions exist in many states to address this very problem.  North Carolina ought to think about what it can do, because safeguards can be applied to protect our citizenry living in mobile home parks.

To review, the residents at Homestead Village will be kicked out of their homes in the near future if the City of Raleigh goes ahead with a proposal to rezone the 38.5 acres in their park to mixed use commercial.  Such a rezoning is the request of a buyer for the land who would presumably build shops, offices, and mixed use on the site.  It is located on a sought after part of land near Capital Boulevard in North Raleigh.

Rep. Susan Fisher (D-Asheville) introduced a bill last session (H1700) that would protect residents in this situation.  The bill provided for a tax credit that would partially offset the capital gains experienced by the owner as a result of the sale. The condition is that the owner would have to sell the park to  residents, either directly or through an agency representing their interests.

Oregon requires that landlords provide tenants with between $5,000 and $9,000 in the event of a displacement.

Several states give residents the “right of first refusal,” essentially an option to both be notified and to buy a park at the price set by an owner and an outside investor.

Some cities, including Vallejo, California, and Davie, Florida, have placed bans on the closure of mobile home parks.

~ by samsondoggie on May 4, 2008.